Method of reconstructing drums



Oct. 10, 1939. R. s. RHEEM METHOD OF R ECONSTRUCTING DRUMS Filed Dec. 23, 1935 1N VENTOR. f/tf/m'v'o 5. 2/2660? ATTORNEY r walls that may be dented inwardly.

Patented Oct. 10, 1939 METHOD OF RECONSTRUCTING DRUMS Richard S. Rheem, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Richmond, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 23,-1935, Serial No. 55,73

9 Claims.

The invention relates to the matter of reconstructing steel drums formed with permanently closed ends, incidental to reconditioning such drums for use or reuse after they have become deformed and deteriorated.

One of the requisites for effecting the.reconditioning of relatively large steel drums, such as used in the oil industry, is that of having access to the interior of the drum not only to the extent of cleaning out all of the previous contents of the drum but to remove from the inner surfaces of the walls any rust and scale formed thereon and further to forcing outwardly into normal or original position the portions of the Usually the end walls of the drum are seamed or otherwise permanently secured to the side walls; in most instances, therefore, the only means of access to the interior of the drum is provided by the bung hole formed in the end or side walls of the drum. Such hole, however, is relatively small and the size thereof makes difficult or impractical, if not impossible, the insertion into the drum of tools or mechanism appropriate for cleaning and removing accumulations on the walls and correcting deformities therein. In accordance with the present invention, I sever from the drum an entire end or head thereof, including the portion of the side walls with which the end wall is seamed. In this way there may be inserted within the drum, cleaning, buffing and reshaping apparatus having an operating or working circumference corresponding to that of the inside of the drum. When the cleaning and reforming has been accomplished, reclosure of the drum is arranged to be effected by replacing over the open end thereof the previously removed section of the drum, and in order that such section may be replaced in toto and permit an efficient reuniting thereof with the drum, the rim of the latter at the open end thereof is rolled or otherwise expanded to form an annular pocket or seat in which may be fitted the seamed portions of the section. When the section has been thus operatively fitted on the drum, permanent attachment and sealing of the parts together may be effected by welding, rolling, or utilization of other suitable means of jointure.

Some of the objectives of the invention, particularly with respect to the embodiment of the invention herein described, are as follows:

First, the removal from the drum, as originally constructed, such portion thereof as will permit insertion and operation of the aforesaid mechanism in the drum, without requiring or causing,

on the subsequent reconstruction of the drum,

any waste or addition of material, any change in form or structure of such removed portion, any

impairment of the strength or appearance of the drum, or any material variation in the normal capacity of the drum, or rendering of the drum less desirable to handle, ship, or store;

Second, affording the desired access to the drum by the temporary removal of such part of the drum as may be effected with least expense and difliculty and yet be conducive to the efficient reuniting of the parts for the subsequent reconstruction and closing of the drum; and

Third, reconstruction of the drum by use of the original head or end wall without requiring subsequent seaming of the parts or rolling of one part over the other to effect a sealed joint.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to' be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawing and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a side View, partly in section, show-. ing a well known type of drum originally constructed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the drum i1- lustrated in Figure 1, but showing it about to undergo the first operation in the reconditioning process, namely the removal of a closed end of the drum.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, but showing the drum in the process of being cleaned on the interior thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the rim portion of thedrum after the end section of the drum has been severed therefrom.

Figure 5 is a'view like Figure 4, but with the rim portion of the drum re-formed for receiving the removed end section.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the fully reconstructed drum showing the severed end replaced and united with the drum proper again.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a reconstructed drum showing a slightly modified form of jointure.

Figure 8 is a view similar to, Figure '1, but showing another modified form of the invention The drum which I have here chosen for the purpose of explaining the invention, is of a common type, and comprises in its original construction, as will be clear from Figures 1 and 2, cylindrical side walls 3 and end walls 4 which are secured together through means of flanges 5 and 6 respectively extending integrally from the walls 4 and 5 and seamed together to provide a sealed joint I. The body of each end wall is depressed interiorly of the side walls, and the interlocking flanges of the end and side walls are disposed exteriorly of the side walls. As here shown the depression of the end wall and th lapping of the flanges on the side walls, are coextensive, but such relationship while desirable is not essential. On the body portion of the end wall are located one or more inlet or outlet fittings 9 whose outer extremities are desirably within the rim of the drum. It will be clear that to attempt to clean the interior of the drum and remove any deformations in the side walls, by way of the openings defined by the fittings, is, practically speaking, impossible.

Incarrying out my invention, as previously explained, either one or both ends or heads of the drum are arranged to be temporarily removed or decapitated from the drum, so that there will be exposed at the decapitated end of the drum an opening whose area is the same as that of the interior of the drum in transverse section. In effecting the decapitation of the drum in accordance with my invention, the side walls are arranged to be completely severed circumferentially at a point inwardly of the seamed flanges, and preferably such line of severance is at the immediate inner extremity of the flanges. In performing the severing operation it has been found expedient to support the drum in a horizontal position and then by means of a cutter wheel I! effect the cutting operation while the drum is caused to rotate. It will of course be understood that the severance may be effected by other means.

After the section l3, which includes the entire end wall and the flanged and seamed portion of the side walls, has thus been removed from the body of the drum and the entire end of the latter thereby opened up, the drum may be supported for longitudinal movementon a truck M or the like so as to permit insertion into the open end of the drum of whatever cleaning and re-forming mechanism may be desired for reconditioning the drum. In Figure 3, where the cleaning operation is illustrated, it will be seen thatthe cleaning mechanism l6 includes a rotary brush ll whose working circumference is at least as large as the inner circumference of the drum and is thus ample to afford operative contact with the entire inner surface of the drum as the one is moved longitudinally relative to the other. Where but one head of the drum is removed, cleaning of the inner side thereof may be effected by a brush portion l8 at the forward end of the mechanism l6. Re-forming, that is removing deformations in, the side walls of the drum may be done either prior or subsequent to the cleaning operation.

As previously stated, one of the features of the present invention is the re-use in the reconstructed drum of theentire section l3 which has been severed from the drum body as aforesaid. In accordance with the foregoing, provision is made for permitting the ready positioning and replacement of the section l3 on the open end or rim ii of the drum, and in such manner as to involve no change in such section, and

only a minimum change in the drum body. This is accomplished by forming in said rim portion, preferably after the reconditioning of the drum body has been completed, an annular seat or pocket 22 which is large enough to accommodate the section. In the present embodiment the seat is formed by expanding or offsetting the rim 2| so that while said rim is caused to retain its cylindrical form, its inner circumference corresponds to the periphery of the section I3, and at the same time a shoulder 23 is provided, against which the section may abut when seated within the pocket. It will thus be clear that by offsetting the drum as aforesaid, not only will there be provided a firm seat for the replaced section, but the latter will be guided to and held in proper position on the drum. After the section is thus operatively positioned on the drum it is a very simple matter, such as by welding, to permanently secure the same in position. In the present instance the welding of the parts is effected along an annular portion 24 between the rim and the flange 6, and it is important to note that in the reconstruction of the drum the side walls of the drum body are thus again united directly to the end wall. If desired a ring gasket 26 maybe interposed between the shoulder 23 and the opposing portion of the replaced section, and when the parts are being welded together the section and drum are drawn together whereby the gasket will be compressed when the drum is in final reconstructed condition. In this way a sealed joint between the reunited members is assured irrespective of any defects in the welding.

It will of course be understood that my invention is applicable to the reconstruction of drums regardless of the type and form of the joint between the head and side walls of the drum, and thus while the drawing so far described shows a simple lock seam joint, it should be clear that such form of joint is chosen for simplicity of illustration. In Figure 7, for example, the head and side wall portion of the replaced section are shown as originally joined by a double lock seam. A slight modification in the mode of securing the severed sections together is shown in such Figure '7, and such modification consists in forming the seat or pocket 22' deep enough to receive the complete seam or joint portion of the severed section and whereby the open extremity of the rim 2| may be rolled slightly inwardly over the top of said section. Where the sections are associated in this manner the line 24' of the welding occurs at the outer extremity of the drum.

Another modification in the reconstruction of the drum is illustrated in Figure 8, and this modification is particularly applicable where the depressed portion 3| of the head extends inwardly beyond the point at which the side walls of the drum are severed. Where this relationship obtains, the portion 3| will, on the replacement of the severed section, provide a means of guiding the section to and holding same in proper position on the drum body for permanent reattachment. The welding 32 occurs at the abutting severed faces of the sections.

It will now be clear that in effecting the reconditioning and reconstruction of the drum in accordance with my invention, all operations are simple and easily accomplished, no strains are imposed on the drum material nor upon the mechanism or tools used in the dismembering and reuniting operations and no parts or portions are discarded, substituted, or added.

I claim: 1. The process of reconstructing a cylindrical drum having end and side walls united by marginal flanges seamed together and lapping said side walls exteriorly, which comprises removing the end section of the drum from the remainder of the drum by severing the side walls circumferentially and inwardly of the flanges to permit access to the interior of the drum for cleaning, builing or reshaping, enlarging the circumference of the severed extremity of said remaining section of the drum to a size which will enable the original marginal flanges to be positioned therein, and positioning and securing within said enlarged extremity the removed section with the severed extremity thereof inwardly in said drum.

2. The process of reconstructing a cylindrical drum having end and side walls united by marginal flanges seamed together and lapping said side walls exteriorly, which comprises removing the end section of the drumfrom the body thereof by severing the side walls circumferentially adjacent the inner end of said flanges, cleaning the interior of the .drum, expanding the severed end of the body section to correspond on the inner side thereof with the periphery of said removed section along the full length of the expanded section, positioning said removed section together with the flanged portion within the expanded extremity aforesaid, thereby replacing the original outside surface of said end section, and welding said expanded extremity to the flanged periphery of the removed section.

3. The process of reconstructing a drum having end and side walls united at their marginal edges, which comprises removing the end section of the drum by severing the side walls circumferentially inwardly of the united marginal edges, cleaning, bufllng and reshaping the interior of the drum, expanding the severed edge of said side walls to produce a seat for said severed end wall, replacing the removed section over the other section and with one interfltted with the other and then welding the sections together with the sections fltted together.

4. The process of reconstructing a drum having end and side walls permanently secured together at their marginal edges and with said end wall having its central portion depressed and fitting within the side walls, which comprises removing an end section of the drum by severing the side walls circumferentially inwardly of said marginal edges, circumferentially expanding the severed end of said side walls, replacing said severed section on the other section with the depressed portion fltted therewithin, and permanently reuniting the sections by welding the side walls together along their severed edges.

5. The process of reconstructing a drum having end and side walls permanently secured together by interlocking flanges extending along the exterior of said side walls, which comprises severing said side walls circumferentially inwardly of said flanges, expanding the side walls of the drum at the severed end thereof whereby said flanges may be fitted and substantially completely'received therein, positioning said closure within said expanded portion, rolling the free end of said rim over said flanges, and welding the free end oftherimtotheflanges.

6. The process of reconstructing a cylindrical drum having end and side walls united by marginal flanges seamed together and lapping said walls exteriorly which comprises removing the end section of the drum from the remainder of the drum by severing the side walls circumferentially and inwardly of the flanges to permit ac cess to the interior of the drum for cleanin bufllng or reshaping, enlarging the circumference of the severed extremity of said remaining section of the drum to form a shoulder at the enlargement, positioning a compressible gasket in said enlargement and against said shoulder, positioning the old head on the drum with said marginal flanges in said enlargement, compressing said flanges against said gasket to sealthe drum against leakage and fastening said end rigidly on said drum.

7. The process of reconstructing a cylindrical drum having end and side walls united by marginal flanges seamed together and lapping said walls exteriorly which comprises removing the end section of the drum from the remainder of the drum by severing the side walls circumferentially and inwardly of the flanges to permit access to the interior of the drum for cleaning, bufllng or reshaping, enlarging the circumference of the severed extremity of said remaining section of the drum to form a shoulder at the enlargement, positioning a compressible gasket in said enlargement and against said shoulder, positioning the old head on the drum with said marginal flanges in said enlargement, compressing said flanges against said gasket to seal the drum against leakage and welding the extremity of the enlarged section to the flanged periphery of the removed section.

8. The process of reconstructing a drum having cylindrical side walls and an end wall permanently secured at its marginal edges to said side walls, which comprises removing an end section of the drum by severing the drum circumferentially inwardly of its end, cleaning the inner surfaces of said drum, bufilng said inner surfaces, reshaping said drum by a process of rolling, expanding the severed end of the body section to correspond on the inner side thereof with the periphery of said removed section, positioning said removed section within the expanded extremity aforesaid, and welding said expanded extremity to the flanged periphery of the removed section.

9. The process of reconstructing a drum having cylindrical side walls and an end wall permanently secured at its marginal edges to said side walls by means of a folded bead which comprises. removing an end section of the drum by severing the drum circumferentially inwardly of its end to expose substantially the full interior diameter of the drum for cleaning or bufllng or reshaping the interior of the drum, enlarging the severed end of the drum body to a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the original folded bead to produce a substantially cylindrical seat to receive the severed end section, positioning said section in said seat, and permanently securing said section in said seat.

RICHARDB. 

